Commissioner backing GOP challenger

Democrat Fuda openly campaigns for Frenchko over party chairman Polivka

WARREN -- The Trumbull County commissioner race between incumbent Daniel Polivka and challenger Niki Frenchko has gotten a little hotter in these dog days of August since a third party joined the fray.

That third-party is a familiar combative colleague of Polivka's on the county board -- fellow Democratic Commissioner Frank Fuda.

Trumbull County residents going to downtown Warren may have seen Fuda driving around in a blue car with "Elect Niki Frenchko" signs on the side. Fuda also has been going to events handing out "Elect Frenchko" pens and buttons.

An Aug. 8 social media post by Fuda sums up his endorsement of the Republican candidate: "Niki has my full support for commissioner. She is a hard-working and honest leader. Niki is protective of senior citizens, our tax money and has the background in planning and development that our county needs."

Frenchko said she's honored to have Fuda's endorsement.

"Of course, I'm happy. Frank is a hard worker, and so I am," she said, noting that political party differences don't matter in this instance.

Frenchko has been transportation chair for the senior levy board and often has sparred with commissioners on various issues. Lately, she has advocated for the Western Reserve Transit Authority, which this year has expanded its service into Trumbull County significantly.

THE CAMPAIGN

During this 2020 campaign, Frenchko had been embroiled in a fight to stay on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Trumbull County Board of Elections has acknowledged that she can remain on the ballot.

Also, Frenchko successfully has petitioned the Ohio Supreme Court to stay temporarily a hearing by the Trumbull County Board of Election regarding the validity of her county residency. A bail bondsmen has questioned her maintaining two residences, one in Warren and the other in Mentor where her daughter goes to school

The Supreme Court will consider arguments from both sides and decide whether the hearing will be held.

Frenchko has claimed the letter by bondsman Thomas Cool to the elections board was a stunt motivated by dirty politics and said she believes it is related to her efforts to "clean up" transit issues. She has been vocal in the past, criticizing commissioners' deal for a transit system with Community Busing Services.

Frenchko and Fuda ran against each other for county commissioner in 2006, the year Fuda was first elected to the post.

HOT AND COLD

Fuda and Polivka have enjoyed a hot and cold relationship while working together on the county board. Polivka said they have enjoyed many accomplishments with county projects such as the one bringing drinking water to many western Trumbull County communities.

They have had their moments, however. In the 2018 Democratic primary campaign, Fuda was seeking re-election against then-Hubbard councilwoman Lisha Pompili-Baumiller. Polivka -- as county Democratic Party chairman -- pushed for the party leadership to endorse Pompili-Baumiller over Fuda.

In that primary, Fuda rolled to victory with more than 70 percent of the vote.

In 2020, Fuda has been upset with the office hours Polivka keeps, especially during the early days of the pandemic. Polivka said his management style doesn't include sitting in an office.

"I text people. I go out and meet people," Polivka said.

Fuda, however, said he got upset in late March when he had to send a boxful of county bills to Polivka's home in order for him to sign off.

"This is more than a half-hour-a-week job. That really bothers me," Fuda said of Polivka's work habits.

Polivka said last week he thinks the feud with Fuda may have started in 2016 when Polivka was being challenged by two opponents in the general election, and was against imposing a sales tax increase in Trumbull County to offset a potential budget deficit. Fuda and Auditor Adrian Biviano were pushing for a tax increase at the time.

Polivka and Fuda publicly had argued during this time over county hiring practices. In one such meeting in 2016, Polivka was quoted as saying that "Frank has more jobs than monster.com."

'HIGH ROAD'

In the 2020 race, Polivka said he has been trying to "take the high road" in any conflict with Fuda.

"Nobody wins when you lose your temper," Polivka said, noting he tries to stay professional when dealing with criticism or rancor coming from his longtime colleague.

Polivka said the relationship between the two always hasn't been bad, and they have accomplished a lot together for Trumbull County through their more than a decade in office.

Polivka said it could be different if he doesn't win in the fall.

"Frank may not know how lucky he has it right now," Polivka said.